Fighting figure toy

ABSTRACT

A fighting toy of the type including a base movably mounting at least two figures for movement relative to each other and having an actuator for each figure. Through the actuators, the players can cause their figure to fight with an opponent&#39;&#39;s figure. Each of the figures is mounted for movement toward and away from the other figure and for rotative movement about a generally vertical axis. Each is additionally provided with a contacting surface which may be brought into contact with the opposing figure. A latch is provided for each of the figures for normally holding the same in an upright position and when the latch is tripped by contact with the contact element of the opposing figure, the figure whose latch is contacted is biased for movement towards a prone position signalling the end of the fight.

Breslow et al.

[111 3,864,870 1 1 Feb. 11, 1975 FIGHTING FIGURE TOY [75] Inventors:Jeffrey D. Breslow, Highland Park; Eugene JaworskL'Park Ridge. both ofIII.

[73] Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates,

Chicago, Ill.

22 Filed: Aug. 27, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 391,792

[52] US. Cl. 46/142, 46/148 Primary Examiner-Hugh R. Chamblee AssistantE.raminerRobert F. Cutting Attorney, Agent, or FirmCoffee & Sweeney [57]ABSTRACT A fighting toy of the type including a base movably mounting atleast two figures for movement relative to each other and having anactuator for each figure. Through the actuators, the players can causetheir figure to fight with an opponents figure. Each of the figures ismounted for movement toward and away from the other figure and forrotative movement about a generally vertical axis. Each is additionallyprovided with a contacting surface which may be brought into contactwith the opposing figure. A latch is provided for each of the figuresfor normally holding the same in an upright position and when the latchis tripped by contact with the contact element of the opposing figure,the figure whose latch .is contacted is biased for movement towards aprone position signalling the end of the fight.

11 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures I SHEET 10F 2 PATENTED FEB I I I975FIGHTING FIGURE TOY I BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relatesto a fighting toy and, more particularly, a fighting toy of the typewherein two or more figures are controlled by an opposing player andmoved to fight each other. Typical of the prior art is U.S. Pat. No.3,235,259 to Glass et al.

Over the years there have been a number of proposals of toys or gameswherein two or more figures are controlled by a respective player in amanner simulating a fight. Typically, means are provided whereby thefigures may be made to undergo controlled, compound movement relative toa base and to each other in an attempt to strike the figure of theopposing player. Means are also provided whereby, when one of thefigures strikes a blow on the other figure at a predetermined positionthereon, some particular type of action designating such a hit willoccur so as to signal the achievement of a point or the end of a fight,etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the principal object of the invention toprovide a new and improved fighting toy of the type wherein two or morefigures are mounted for controlled movement by an operator to simulate afight. More specifically, it is an object of the invention to providesuch a game that is simple and economical in construction.

The exemplary embodiment of the invention achieves the foregoing objectin a structure including a base having two figures mounted thereabove.Each of thefigures is mounted for movement relative to the base and toeach other by means including a slide whereby the position of thefigures on the base can be reciprocated towards and away from eachother. The figures are also mounted on the slide for rotation relativethereto so that the angular position of the figure relative to the baseand to the other figure can be selectively changed. The resultantcompound movement permits a high degree of manipulation of the variousfigures for the purpose of simulating the fight.

A single operator is provided for each of the figures and includes ahandle operating portion pivotally secured to the slide. Byreciprocating the handle, the slide may be made to reciprocate. Thehandle also includes a sector gear which is in mesh with a spur gearsecured to the figure. As a result, rotation of the handle will causethe figure to undergo the aforementioned rotation.

in the preferred embodiment, each of the figures is provided with aprojection with which it may strike the opposing figure. In thepreferred embodiment, each projection terminates in a striking elementwhich is connected to the figure by a resilient connection such as thespring so that the striking element will move with the figure and alsomay move relative to the figure under the influence of inertia.

Each of the figures is further mounted on its respective slide forpivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis. A spring isemployed to bias the figure away from a normal upright position to aprone position about the horizontal axis. Each figure is also providedwith a latching mechanism normally latching the figure in the uprightposition. An exterior latch operator emerges from the figure and whenhit by the striking element of the opposing figure, will cause theunlatch- LII ing of the latch mechanism with the result that the figurethat has been contacted on its latch operator will fall to a proneposition.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingspecification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofa fightingtoy made according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section ofthe fighting to);

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section of the toy illustrating a latchmechanism in an unlatched state;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the toy with parts broken away for clarity;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the game, againwith parts shown in section for clarity; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of a portion of themounting for the figure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An exemplary embodiment ofafighting toy made according to the invention is illustrated in thedrawings and, with reference to FIG. 1, is seen to include a base,generally designated 10, which is elongated and which mounts twonormally upright figures, each generally designated 12, which aremounted for compound movement relative to the base 10 and to each other.More specifically, each of the figures 12, which as shown, appear asbears, is mounted for reciprocal movement toward and away from thecenter of the base 10 by means to be described in greater detailhereinafter and further is mounted for rotation about a generallyvertical axis, which axis is shiftable. Since the construction of thefigures 12 and the various appurtenant structure with respect to each isidentical one to the other, only one will be described hereinafter.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, the interior of the base 10 is hollowand within the interior thereof, near the upper surface and along bothsides, are ledges l4. Mounted on the ledges 14 for reciprocal movementin the direction of elongation of the base 10 is a slide 16 for each ofthe figures 12. The upper surface of the base 10 includes a pair ofelongated slots 18 extending in the direction of elongation of the base10 and extending upwardly through each is the hub 20 of a spur gear 22which is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis by any suitablemeans to the respective slide 16.

Each slide 16 further mounts a figure operator 24. Specifically, one endof the operator 24 is mounted as by pivot pin 26 for pivotal movementabout a substantially vertical axis to the slide 16. The same end of theoperator 24 includes a sector gear 28 in mesh with the associated spurgear 22. An opposite end of the operator 24 includes a handle portion 30which extends exteriorly of the ends of the base 10 through slots 32provided for that purpose.

As a result of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that byreciprocating the handle 30, the slide 16 may be caused to reciprocatewithin the base 10. It will also be recognized that by swinging thehandle 30, the associated spur gear 22 may be caused to rotate.

Each of the figures 12 includes a fiat, base plate 34 which is securedas by a screw 36 to the hub 20 of the associated spur gear 22. Thus,reciprocation of the handle will result in reciprocation of thecorresponding figure 12 while rotation of the handle 30 will result inrotation of the corresponding figure 12. Thus, each of the figures 12 ismounted for compound movement on the base and since each have their ownhandles 30, each is mounted for compound movement relative to eachother.

The rear side of each base plate 34 (relative to the front of the figure12) includes eyelets 38 for receiving a pivot pin 40 or pintle. Thelower end of each of the figures 12 includes corresponding eyelets 42which are alignable with the eyelets 38 to receive the pintle 40 so thatthe figure 12 is mounted for movement about'a generally horizontal axisbetween a substantially upright position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and aprone position approximately 90 from that illustrated. Aninterconnecting spring 43 is operative to bias each figure towards theprone position.

Within each figure 12 is a latch mechanism, generally designated 44. Thesame includes a vertically elongated link 46 pivotally mounted by a pin48 at its upper end to integrally formed, spaced ears 50 within thefigure. A leaf spring 52 is also secured within the figure by anysuitable means and is arranged to bear against the link 46 and urge thesame forwardly with relation to the face of the figure 12.

The lower end of the link 46 includes a latching hook 54 and a similar,but oppositely directed latching hook 56 is formed on the associatedbase plate 34. As can be seen in H6. 2, the hooks 54 and 56 may latchagainst each other to preclude the figure 12 from pivoting about thepivot axis defined by the pintle 40 and against the bias of the spring43. In other words, the latch 44 is operative to maintain the figure 12in a normal upright condition.

Extending forwardly and secured to each link 46, is a latch operator 58terminating in a button-like structure 60 which emerges through anaperture 62 at the front of the figure 12. When the button-likestructure 60 is urged rearwardly against the bias of the leaf spring 52,the latch 44 will be unlatched with the result that the spring 43 willimmediately move the corresponding figure 12 to the aforementioned proneposition.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the figures 12 areprovided with staves, generally designated 70, as fighting implements.Each stave 70, as best seen in FIG. 5, includes a projection from theassociated figure which is defined by a striking element such as asphere 72. The sphere 72 is mounted on one end of a stub shaft 74, theother end of which is tightly received within a coil spring 76. A stubshaft 78 secured to the body of the figure l2 proper receives the otherend of the spring 76 with the result that the contact member or strikingelement 72 is resiliently mounted for movement relative to the figure 12as well as movement with the figure 12. The horizontal position of eachof the staves relative to the figure is approximately the same as theposition of the button-like structure 60 associated with the latchmechanism 44 of the opposite figure.

Thus, in playing a game, through appropriate manipulation of the handle30, the striking element 72 of one figure may be brought into contactwith the button-like structure 60 of the opposing playerss figure asschematically illustrated in FIG. 3. This will result in the unlatchingof the figure so that the spring 43 will cause the figure to assume theprone position. Depending upon the rules of the game that may be playedwith the toy. such an event may signal the scoring of a point for aplayer or, in the alternative, the winning of the fight by thatparticular player.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a fighting toy madeaccording to the invention is extremely simple in its construction,thereby providing a toy that is long lived and not prone to mechanicalfailure. By reason of the simplicity of the toy, the same is susceptibleto extremely economic manufacture.

We claim:

I. A fighting game comprising: a base and at least two figures abovesaid base; a plurality of means, one for each figure, mounting theassociated figure for compound movement on the base and including aslide mounted for reciprocal movement on the base, each said slidejournalling a spur gear for rotation about a substantially verticalaxis, each said figure being secured to the associated spur gear forrotation about said substantially vertical axis therewith, each saidslide further pivotally mounting an operator having a gripping portionand an opposed gear portion in mesh with the associated spur gearwhereby rotation of said gripping portion will cause rotation of theassociated figure and reciprocation of said gripping portion will causereciprocation of the corresponding figure; a plurality of means, one foreach of said figures, mounting the associated figure for furthermovement between a substantially upright position and a substantiallyprone position relative to the base; means for normally biasing eachfigure towards said prone position; latching means operative to holdeach figure in its normally upright position; and operating means forsaid latch means for unlatching said latching means to allow each figureto move to its substantially prone position; each figure including meansadapted to contact the operating means of the latching means of theother figure to cause the other figure to move from said substantiallyupright position to said prone position.

2. A fighting toy according to claim 1 wherein said contacting meansincludes a striking element resiliently connected to the associatedfigure for movement therewith and limited relative movement with respectthereto.

3. A fighting toy comprising:

a base adapted to rest on an underlying surface;

at least two generally horizontal reciprocal slides mounted on saidbase;

at least two normally upright figures, one for each slide, each figurebeing mounted on one slide so that each figure may be moved towardanother figure by reciprocating its respective slide, each figureincluding means defining a substantially vertical pivot axis mounted onsaid slide so that said figure can pivot between a normal position and ahit position, a projection constructed and arranged to be brought intocontact with another figure, and a target area which is adapted to beengaged by a projection on another figure when said other figure hasbeen moved generally adjacent a first figure and moved into a hitposition;

means mounting each of said figures for pivotal movement about asubstantially horizontal axis whereby the position of each figure may bechanged from a normal upright position to a substantially proneposition;

means associated with said target area of each figure for causing thefigure to move from its normally upright position to said prone positionin response to the contact of the target area by a projection of anotherfigure; and

plurality of actuators, one for each of said figures, adapted to bemanually actuated in a controlled fashion to cause the associated figureto undergo a selected compound movement, each actuator including ahandle pivotally mounted on its respective slide for rotation about asubstantially vertical axis spaced from said first vertical axis andincluding a sector gear on one side thereof, a spur gear meshed withsaid sector gear and mounted for rotation about said first mentionedvertical axis, said spur gear being secured to said figure whereby whensaid spur gear is rotated by said sector gear, said figure will rotatetherewith between its normal and hit positions.

4. A fighting game according to claim 3 wherein each of said projectionsincludes a striking element at the end thereof, said striking elementbeing secured by resilient means to the associated figure whereby thestriking element may move relative to the associated figure.

5. A fighting game according to claim 3 wherein said means for causingeach figure to move from its normal upright position to a prone positioncomprises a spring normally biasing the associated figure for rotationabout said horizontal axis to said prone position and a latch operativeto latch the associated figure in said upright position, said latchincluding an operating element with said target area forming a partthereof for unlatching the associated figure when said target area isstruck by the projection of the other figure.

6. A fighting toy comprising:

a base adapted to rest on an underlying surface;

at least two normally upright figures each being independently mountedfor compound movement on the base, each figure including a generallyhorizontally extending striking element adapted to contact anotherfigure and a target area which is adapted to be engaged by a strikingelement of another figure;

vertical rotational mounting means for rotatably mounting each of saidfigures about a generally vertical axis so that each figure can pivotabout said axis between a position wherein said striking element is awayfrom another adjacent figure and a hit position wherein said strikingelement can engage the target area of another adjacent figure;horizontal rotational mounting means for mounting each of said figuresabout a generally horizontal axis so that each figure is movable betweenits normal upright position and a substantially prone position;

means associated with said target area of each figure for causing afigure to move from its upright position to its prone position inresponse to the engagement of its target area by the striking element ofanother figure; and

a plurality of actuators, one for each of said figures, for causing theassociated figure to undergo said compound movements, includingrotational drive means associated with said vertical rotational mountingmeans for causing the associated figure to pivot about said axis.

7. The fighting toy of claim 3 including reciprocal mounting means formounting each figure for reciprocal movement toward and away fromanother figure, said actuators being associated with said reciprocalmounting means to effect the reciprocal movement of its associatedfigure.

8. The fighting toy of claim 7 wherein said reciprocal mounting meansincludes a plurality of slides mounted on the base, each for mountingone of said figures and its associated vertical rotational mountingmeans and horizontal rotational mounting means.

9. The fighting toy of claim 8 wherein each actuator includes a handlepivotally mounted on its respective slide for rotation about asubstantially vertical axis spaced from said first vertical axis andincluding a sector gear on one side thereof, a spur gear meshed withsaid sector gear and mounted for rotation about said first mentionedvertical axis, said spur gear being secured to said figure whereby whensaid spur gear is rotated by said sector gear, said figure will rotatetherewith between its normal and hit positions.

10. The fighting toy of claim 3 wherein each rotational drive meansincludes an elongated member having a handle for manual manipulation atone end thereof and being pivotally mounted at the other end thereof inassociation with said vertical rotational mounting means whereby afigure will pivot about said axis in response to pivotal movement of itsassociated member.

11. A fighting game according to claim 3 wherein said means for causingeach figure to move from Its normal upright position to a prone positioncomprises a spring normally biasing the associated figure for rotationabout said horizontal axis to said prone position and a latch operativeto latch the associated figure in said upright position, said latchincluding an operating element with said target area forming a partthereof for unlatching the associated figure when said target area isstruck by the projection of the other figure.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,864,870 Dated February 11, 1975 Invent0r(S) Jeffrev D. Breslow It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In claims 7, l0 and 11, the dependency on claim "3" should be dependentupon claim 6.

Signed Scaled this I A Tent h August 1976 {saw Arrest:

RUTH c. mm c. M'A'asmu. DANN 17 Commissioner 1 Patents and Trademarks

1. A fighting game comprising: a base and at least two figures abovesaid base; a plurAlity of means, one for each figure, mounting theassociated figure for compound movement on the base and including aslide mounted for reciprocal movement on the base, each said slidejournalling a spur gear for rotation about a substantially verticalaxis, each said figure being secured to the associated spur gear forrotation about said substantially vertical axis therewith, each saidslide further pivotally mounting an operator having a gripping portionand an opposed gear portion in mesh with the associated spur gearwhereby rotation of said gripping portion will cause rotation of theassociated figure and reciprocation of said gripping portion will causereciprocation of the corresponding figure; a plurality of means, one foreach of said figures, mounting the associated figure for furthermovement between a substantially upright position and a substantiallyprone position relative to the base; means for normally biasing eachfigure towards said prone position; latching means operative to holdeach figure in its normally upright position; and operating means forsaid latch means for unlatching said latching means to allow each figureto move to its substantially prone position; each figure including meansadapted to contact the operating means of the latching means of theother figure to cause the other figure to move from said substantiallyupright position to said prone position.
 2. A fighting toy according toclaim 1 wherein said contacting means includes a striking elementresiliently connected to the associated figure for movement therewithand limited relative movement with respect thereto.
 3. A fighting toycomprising: a base adapted to rest on an underlying surface; at leasttwo generally horizontal reciprocal slides mounted on said base; atleast two normally upright figures, one for each slide, each figurebeing mounted on one slide so that each figure may be moved towardanother figure by reciprocating its respective slide, each figureincluding means defining a substantially vertical pivot axis mounted onsaid slide so that said figure can pivot between a normal position and ahit position, a projection constructed and arranged to be brought intocontact with another figure, and a target area which is adapted to beengaged by a projection on another figure when said other figure hasbeen moved generally adjacent a first figure and moved into a hitposition; means mounting each of said figures for pivotal movement abouta substantially horizontal axis whereby the position of each figure maybe changed from a normal upright position to a substantially proneposition; means associated with said target area of each figure forcausing the figure to move from its normally upright position to saidprone position in response to the contact of the target area by aprojection of another figure; and a plurality of actuators, one for eachof said figures, adapted to be manually actuated in a controlled fashionto cause the associated figure to undergo a selected compound movement,each actuator including a handle pivotally mounted on its respectiveslide for rotation about a substantially vertical axis spaced from saidfirst vertical axis and including a sector gear on one side thereof, aspur gear meshed with said sector gear and mounted for rotation aboutsaid first mentioned vertical axis, said spur gear being secured to saidfigure whereby when said spur gear is rotated by said sector gear, saidfigure will rotate therewith between its normal and hit positions.
 4. Afighting game according to claim 3 wherein each of said projectionsincludes a striking element at the end thereof, said striking elementbeing secured by resilient means to the associated figure whereby thestriking element may move relative to the associated figure.
 5. Afighting game according to claim 3 wherein said means for causing eachfigure to move from its normal upright position to a prone positioncomprises a spring normally biasing the assocIated figure for rotationabout said horizontal axis to said prone position and a latch operativeto latch the associated figure in said upright position, said latchincluding an operating element with said target area forming a partthereof for unlatching the associated figure when said target area isstruck by the projection of the other figure.
 6. A fighting toycomprising: a base adapted to rest on an underlying surface; at leasttwo normally upright figures each being independently mounted forcompound movement on the base, each figure including a generallyhorizontally extending striking element adapted to contact anotherfigure and a target area which is adapted to be engaged by a strikingelement of another figure; vertical rotational mounting means forrotatably mounting each of said figures about a generally vertical axisso that each figure can pivot about said axis between a position whereinsaid striking element is away from another adjacent figure and a hitposition wherein said striking element can engage the target area ofanother adjacent figure; horizontal rotational mounting means formounting each of said figures about a generally horizontal axis so thateach figure is movable between its normal upright position and asubstantially prone position; means associated with said target area ofeach figure for causing a figure to move from its upright position toits prone position in response to the engagement of its target area bythe striking element of another figure; and a plurality of actuators,one for each of said figures, for causing the associated figure toundergo said compound movements, including rotational drive meansassociated with said vertical rotational mounting means for causing theassociated figure to pivot about said axis.
 7. The fighting toy of claim3 including reciprocal mounting means for mounting each figure forreciprocal movement toward and away from another figure, said actuatorsbeing associated with said reciprocal mounting means to effect thereciprocal movement of its associated figure.
 8. The fighting toy ofclaim 7 wherein said reciprocal mounting means includes a plurality ofslides mounted on the base, each for mounting one of said figures andits associated vertical rotational mounting means and horizontalrotational mounting means.
 9. The fighting toy of claim 8 wherein eachactuator includes a handle pivotally mounted on its respective slide forrotation about a substantially vertical axis spaced from said firstvertical axis and including a sector gear on one side thereof, a spurgear meshed with said sector gear and mounted for rotation about saidfirst mentioned vertical axis, said spur gear being secured to saidfigure whereby when said spur gear is rotated by said sector gear, saidfigure will rotate therewith between its normal and hit positions. 10.The fighting toy of claim 3 wherein each rotational drive means includesan elongated member having a handle for manual manipulation at one endthereof and being pivotally mounted at the other end thereof inassociation with said vertical rotational mounting means whereby afigure will pivot about said axis in response to pivotal movement of itsassociated member.
 11. A fighting game according to claim 3 wherein saidmeans for causing each figure to move from Its normal upright positionto a prone position comprises a spring normally biasing the associatedfigure for rotation about said horizontal axis to said prone positionand a latch operative to latch the associated figure in said uprightposition, said latch including an operating element with said targetarea forming a part thereof for unlatching the associated figure whensaid target area is struck by the projection of the other figure.